American Founding and History
The Center is grounded on the belief that in order for us to understand why America is worth defending, we need to study the uniqueness of America 's experiment in democracy, self-governance, and individual liberties. To this end, it encourages close textual analyses of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution; the debates, speeches, and writings which together helped shaped their contents, such as the debates at the Constitutional Convention and the Federalist and Anti-Federalist writings; and the core philosophical texts that influenced the founders.
Major and Minor in American Studies
Initiated in Fall 2006, CNU's curriculum in American Studies at CNU differs from programs at other universities by focusing primarily on the American founding and its legacy. The curriculum offers both a major and a minor, and includes core courses centered on the founding and evolution of the great "American Experiment" in democracy, capitalism, and self-government.
See University Catalog for more information >>>
Annual Conference on American Principles and History
Each year, the Center hosts a conference centered on the theme "American Principles and History." Prominent scholars with expertise in the fields of law, political science, philosophy, economics, literature, art, and history share their insights on a topic related to civic engagement in America. This two-day conference consists of a series of panels, keynote speeches, and a luncheon, which includes conference participants, students, alumni, and potential donors. CAS aims to annually produce a scholarly book based on the themes of the conference. conference details >>>
Speaker Series
The CAS Speaker Series brings prominent scholars on America 's founding principles, early history, economic system, and philosophical grounding to give public lectures on campus. Guest speakers generally give at least one lecture that is free and open to the public and, when applicable, give guest lectures to individual classes in American studies, history, political science, classics or economics. These lectures provide CNU students, faculty and staff, and the general public with invaluable opportunities to learn about central issues relating to the Center's programming. speaker series details >>>
CAS Post-Doctoral Fellow
Jonathan White earned his B.A. in History from Penn State University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Maryland, College Park. During the 2008 - 2009 academic year he worked as an assistant historian for the Federal Judicial Center, in Washington, D.C. His dissertation, 'To Aid Their Rebel Friends': Politics and Treason in the Civil War North, is under contract with LSU Press. He has also published a number of articles in academic journals and popular history magazines, and in 2007 he published A Philadelphia Perspective: The Civil War Diary of Sidney George Fisher with Fordham University Press.
The CAS Post-Doctoral Fellowship was instituted at the Center for American Studies in Fall 2009. This fellowship was made possible by a grant from the Jack Miller Center for Teaching American Founding Principles and History. This grant will enable CAS to hire post-doctoral fellows for three consecutive years to teach courses and conduct research in the field of American Studies.
Junior Fellowships in American Studies
The CAS Junior Fellows Program is a highly competitive program designed to provide students with opportunities to explore more deeply the issues relating to America 's founding principles, economic system, and place in the world and to assist students in building their credentials as they pursue careers in academia, government, or elsewhere. This paid internship offers CNU students the opportunity to conduct original research on topics relating to the Center's mission; to present that work at professional conferences; and to meet with prestigious lecturers and guests at special events sponsored by the Center, including special luncheons and dinners for guest lecturers and our annual conference. program details >>
